Mounting system for conveyor idlers

Abstract

A mounting system for conveyor idlers incorporates an assembly nut having a plurality of different pairs of parallel faces spaced around the periphery of the nut, such faces being spaced apart by different distances to allow use of the mounting system with a plurality of different styles of mounting brackets.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A support system for an idler roller mounted on a supporting shaft and maintained in position by a support bracket, comprising in combination; an assembly nut threaded onto an end of said supporting shaft and having a part extending axially outwardly beyond the end of the roller, said extending part comprising three or more pairs of parallel opposing faces spaced apart by a different distance for each pair, whereby the orientation of said nut determines the horizontal distance between faces aligned in vertical planes, said mounting bracket having a slot with side edges adapted to receive in close fitting relationship one of said pairs of faces, to maintain said assembly nut in fixed position relative to said bracket. 
     
     
       2. The mounting system according to claim 1, wherein said parallel faces are angularly spaced around the periphery of said nut, by approximately equal angles. 
     
     
       3. The mounting system according to claim 2, wherein each of said angles is approximately 120°. 
     
     
       4. The mounting system according to claim 3, wherein one said pair is separated by about 42 mm, a second said pair is separated by 46 mm, and a third pair is separated by about 50 mm. 
     
     
       5. The mounting system according to claim 1, wherein each of said faces has a dimension in the axial dimension greater than the thickness of said mounting bracket, whereby said idler roller is free to move axially relative to said bracket. 
     
     
       6. The mounting system according to claim 5, including a retainer plate secured to the exterior end of said assembly nut, and said mounting bracket is located between said idler roller and said retainer plate. 
     
     
       7. The mounting system according to claim 1, including a bearing assembly between said shaft and said roller, said nut having an annular surface at its inner end, and a sleeve surrounding said shaft between said nut and said bearing assembly, and engaging said surface, whereby threading said nut onto said shaft urges said sleeve against said bearing assembly. 
     
     
       8. The mounting system according to claim 7, wherein said bearing assembly comprises a roller bearing, and said bearing is preloaded by force transmitted by said sleeve. 
     
     
       9. For use in a support system incorporating a supporting shaft for supporting an idler roller on a mounting bracket, an assembly nut adapted to be threadably received by said shaft and having an extending part comprising three or more pairs of parallel opposing faces spaced apart by a different distance for each pair, the orientation of said nut determining the horizontal distance between faces aligned in vertical planes, said extending part being adapted to be received in a slot of said mounting bracket with one pair of said faces in close fitting relationship with side walls of said notch. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said parallel faces are angularly spaced around the periphery of said nut, by approximately equal angles.